Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
216 minutes of film (second only to Gone With The Wind (1939)) without a single female speaking a line! This was an outstanding year for movies another reason to appreciate how great this movie is. I believe it’s one of the 10 Best Movies EVER made. This Best Picture of the year according to the Academy also saw David Lean win his second Best Director Oscar. Its epic scenes helped the film take home the Color Cinematography & Art Direction-Set Decoration Oscars; its Editing Sound & Score won as well. A fictionalized biography of T.E. Lawrence (played brilliantly by Peter O’Toole who received the first of his eight as yet unrewarded Best Actor Oscar nominations in his first leading role) a British soldier his adventures his legend and his treasonous friendship with the Arabs … notably Omar Sharif’s character. Sharif received his only Academy recognition with a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination; the adapted Screenplay from Robert Bolt and formerly blacklisted writer Michael Wilson (a two time Oscar winner) was also nominated. The excellent supporting cast includes Alec Guinness as (an Arab) Prince Feisal Anthony Quinn (ditto) Jack Hawkins (as a British General) Jose Ferrer Anthony Quayle (as a fellow British officer) Claude Rains and Arthur Kennedy. Added to the National Film Registry in 1991. #5 on AFI’s 100 Greatest Movies list. #23 on AFI’s Most Heart-Pounding Movies list. O’Toole’s title character is AFI’s #10 hero. #3 on AFI’s Top 25 Film Scores list. #30 on AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies list.
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